III。Thesupernaturalgifts，whicheveninthislifewereascribedtotheChristiansabovetherestofmankind，musthaveconducedtotheirowncomfort，andveryfrequentlytotheconvictionofinfidels。Besidestheoccasionalprodigies，whichmightsometimesbeeffectedbytheimmediateinterpositionoftheDeitywhenhesuspendedthelawsofNaturefortheserviceofreligion，theChristianchurch，fromthetimeoftheapostlesandtheirfirstdisciples，^73hasclaimedanuninterruptedsuccessionofmiraculouspowers，thegiftoftongues，ofvision，andofprophecy，thepowerofexpellingdaemons，ofhealingthesick，andofraisingthedead。TheknowledgeofforeignlanguageswasfrequentlycommunicatedtothecontemporariesofIrenaeus，thoughIrenaeushimselfwaslefttostrugglewiththedifficultiesofabarbarousdialect，whilsthepreachedthegospeltothenativesofGaul。^74Thedivineinspiration，whetheritwasconveyedintheformofawakingorofasleepingvision，isdescribedasafavorveryliberallybestowedonallranksofthefaithful，onwomenasonelders，onboysaswellasuponbishops。Whentheirdevoutmindsweresufficientlypreparedbyacourseofprayer，offasting，andofvigils，toreceivetheextraordinaryimpulse，theyweretransportedoutoftheirsenses，anddeliveredinecstasywhatwasinspired，beingmereorgansoftheHolySpirit，justasapipeorfluteisofhimwhoblowsintoit。^75Wemayadd，thatthedesignofthesevisionswas，forthemostpart，eithertodisclosethefuturehistory，ortoguidethepresentadministration，ofthechurch。Theexpulsionofthedaemonsfromthebodiesofthoseunhappypersonswhomtheyhadbeenpermittedtotorment，wasconsideredasasignalthoughordinarytriumphofreligion，andisrepeatedlyallegedbytheancientapoligists，asthemostconvincingevidenceofthetruthofChristianity。Theawfulceremonywasusuallyperformedinapublicmanner，andinthepresenceofagreatnumberofspectators；thepatientwasrelievedbythepowerorskilloftheexorcist，andthevanquisheddaemonwasheardtoconfessthathewasoneofthefabledgodsofantiquity，whohadimpiouslyusurpedtheadorationofmankind。^76Butthemiraculouscureofdiseasesofthemostinveterateorevenpreternaturalkind，cannolongeroccasionanysurprise，whenwerecollect，thatinthedaysofIranaeus，abouttheendofthesecondcentury，theresurrectionofthedeadwasveryfarfrombeingesteemedanuncommonevent；thatthemiraclewasfrequentlyperformedonnecessaryoccasions，bygreatfastingandthejointsupplicationofthechurchoftheplace，andthatthepersonsthusrestoredtotheirprayershadlivedafterwardsamongthemmanyyears。^77Atsuchaperiod，whenfaithcouldboastofsomanywonderfulvictoriesoverdeath，itseemsdifficulttoaccountforthescepticismofthosephilosophers，whostillrejectedandderidedthedoctrineoftheresurrection。AnobleGrecianhadrestedonthisimportantgroundthewholecontroversy，andpromisedTheophilus，BishopofAntioch，thatifhecouldbegratifiedwiththesightofasinglepersonwhohadbeenactuallyraisedfromthedead，hewouldimmediatelyembracetheChristianreligion。
Itissomewhatremarkable，thattheprelateofthefirsteasternchurch，howeveranxiousfortheconversionofhisfriend，thoughtpropertodeclinethisfairandreasonablechallenge。^78
[Footnote73:NotwithstandingtheevasionsofDr。Middleton，itisimpossibletooverlookthecleartracesofvisionsandinspiration，whichmaybefoundintheapostolicfathers。
Note:GibbonshouldhavenoticedthedistinctandremarkablepassagefromChrysostom，quotedbyMiddleton，Works，vol。i。p。
105，inwhichheaffirmsthelongdiscontinuanceofmiraclesasanotoriousfact。—M。]